Love tired of losing

Timberwolves two-time All Star forward Kevin Love looked around when he was named one of 12 players chosen to play for the United States in the London Olympics and noticed something.

He's the only one of the 12 who has never played in an NBA playoff game.

And he's getting antsy for Wolves management to end that distinction.

He told Yahoo! Sports so in an interview while training with the U.S. team in Las Vegas.

"My patience is not high," Love said. "Would yours be, especially when I'm a big proponent of greatness surrounding itself with greatness? All these (Team USA) guys seem to have great players around them.

"It's tough seeing all these guys that are young and older who have all played in the playoffs. When they start talking about that, I have nothing to talk about. If I don't make the playoffs next year, I don't know what will happen."

Love, 23, last winter agreed to a four-year, $61 million contract extension that gives him the option to become an unrestricted free agent after three seasons when he sought from the team the maximum five-year "designated player" slot.

He could opt out in the summer of 2015.

"At this point, I'm not afraid to go on the record," Love told Yahoo! "Being around these (Team USA) guys, they know the situation I'm in and how competitive I am. I want to win. All the players on the Timberwolves feel the same way as well. The coaching staff is awesome. They want to win and win now. Hopefully, we can make some stuff happen.

"I would say it's coming down to it for sure (next season). It's no secret I was willing to commit to Minnesota for five years. I'm very happy with my contract. I'd love to be in Minnesota. But like anybody else, I want to win."

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NBA Team Report - Minnesota Timberwolves - NOTES, QUOTES

--The Timberwolves reportedly are involved in a three-team trade that will send center Robin Lopez and forward Hakim Warrick from the Phoenix Suns to the New Orleans Hornets.

According to the Arizona Republic, Phoenix would receive a conditional first-round pick and swingman Wesley Johnson from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Minnesota would receive retiring Brad Miller, along with his expiring contract, Jerome Dyson and two second-round picks from New Orleans.

Lopez is a restricted free agent, but the sides aren't believed to be close and any talks weren't helped by the three-year, $25 million deal Omer Asik signed with Houston, according to the Republic. It is expected Lopez has agreed to a sign-and-trade deal in order to facilitate the trade to New Orleans.

Meanwhile, New Orleans currently has only Anthony Davis and Jason Smith as big men and is in need of a center.

Johnson, who was the No. 4 overall pick in 2010, averaged 6.0 points last season.

Ellington averaged 6.1 points last season for the Wolves in his third NBA season, while Cunningham averaged 5.2 points and 3.8 rebounds for Memphis in his third NBA season.

The two players make about the same salary, a little over $2 million a season.

--The Timberwolves and Greg Stiemsma reportedly have agreed on a one-year deal that will move the second-year center from Boston. The deal is thought to be worth between $2 million and $3 million.

Stiemsma, 26, averaged 2.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 55 games for the Celtics last season.

He was a restricted free agent who had received a $1.05 million qualifying offer from Boston. The Celtics reportedly couldn't offer more than their bi-annual exception of $1.95 million.

He is expected to add depth to the Wolves' interior, behind Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic.

--The Timberwolves announced center Darko Milicic was waived, designating him as the team's amnesty player.

The amnesty provision should save the Wolves roughly $7 million against the 2012-13 salary cap. The move helped cleared enough space to sign Blazers swingman Nicolas Batum, a restricted free agent, to a four-year, $46.4 million offer sheet on July 15. However, the Blazers matched the Batum offer on July 18 to retain him.

Before the Batum offer could be officially made, the Timberwolves had to wait for Martell Webster to clear waivers July 15, the St. Paul Pioneer-Press reported.

The T-wolves had reached a buyout agreement of $600,000 with Webster on July 13 and had to wait 48 hours for him to clear waivers.

The amnesty provision allows a team to waive one player and not have his salary count against the salary cap or luxury tax.

Milicic spent parts of three seasons as the Timberwolves' starting center, averaging 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks over 122 games and 110 starts with the Wolves.